Interviewer



Patented Feb. 18, 1930 BEN BERNARD BRESLOW, OF LOS ANGELE-S, CALIFORNIA lnrnnvinwnn Application filed July 16, 1929. Serial No. 378,708.

The present invention relates to improvements in an interviewer of the type attached to doors of homes and apartments or the like, permitting the occupant within to observe and converse with a person outside while the entrance door is kept closed, though it is to be noted that the invention is not to be limited in this respect.

The improvement pertains to novel spaced in front and rear panels comprising the interviewer which includes an audible alarm member together with means for removably holding an indicia plate.

Broadly, my invention includes the provision of frame panel members operatively disconnectably associated with an opening in the entrance door and means carried by said members extending towards each other whereby said frame panel members are suitably arranged and maintained in said open- The principal objects and advantages which characterize the present invention resides in the provision of a front frame panel member embodying a suitably disposed grille having means swingably carrying a knocker or manually controllable audible alarm memher and means receiving an indicia holder having prong members adapted to be forced into the body of the door upon the adjustment of the front panel member within the opening in the door and maintain the holder in proper viewing position.

A further object of my invention is in the provision of novel corner members and rim flanges on the front and rear frame panel members respectively cooperating with an adjustable stud member whereby said frame members are properly secured in the opening of said entrance door.

And still other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efficiency of the type of structure herein disclosed, which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in use and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages will be disclosed as the description herein proceeds and it is obvious that modifications may be made in structure without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings showing by way of example one of the many possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front View in elevation of the front frame panel member of the interviewer.

Fig. 2 is a rear View in elevation of the in tcrviewer rear frame panel showing a portion of the interviewing door partly cut away disclosing the grille.

Fig. 3 is a sectional transverse view taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows. p V

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line a r, Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows ant Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows,

My improved interviewer is shown in connection with an entrance door 10 of a home, apartment or the like, preferably provided with a suitable opening 11 cooperating to 0p eratively hold the front frame grille panel 12 and rear frame panel member 13, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

' The front frame panel comprises side members 14 and 15, an upper portion head piece 16, a lower striker portion 17 and an intermediate bar 18. Extending between the bar 18, the striker portion 17 and side members 1 1 and 15 is the grille generally denoted by 19. The grille as illustrated in Figure 1 has an ornamental appearance of pleasing design but includes a plurality of cut away portions or openings, such as 21, 22, 23 and 24, permitting-the occupant within the home to observe and converse with the person in front of the panel, that is the person outside of the door 10 when the latter is closed.

Projecting forwardly of the grille is a pair of spaced lugs 25 and 26 carrying pin 27 on which a restricted extension 28 of a knocker or audible alarm member 29 is swingably mounted. The knocker is provided with an enlarged terminal portion 30 normally abutting striker portion 17 The head piece portion 16 includes an elongated opening 31 having a peripheral forwardly extending bead 32 and an inwardly disposed marginal depression 33 adapted to removably receive an indicia holder 3 1 and hold the latter against the outer face of door 10. Prongs 36 disposed on the rear face of the head piece portion 16 and within close proximity to the marginal depressions 33 extend rearwardly and are adapted to be forced into the body of door 10 as will be hereinafter disclosed.

Extending rearwardly of the grille and along the limits thereof is the grille rim receivable within opening 11 and embodying upper and lower flanges 37 and 38 integrally connecting with the side rim flanges 39 and 40 respectively. The grille rim includes corner members as 41 and 42 and each of the grille corner members is partially bored and threaded, to receive a stud screw 142 hereafter more fully set forth.

The indicia holder comprises an elongated flat plate body portion 42 having upper and lower arcuately disposed retaining flanges 43 bent inwardly but spaced from the flat body portion whereby to slidably and removably receive an indicia front plate 44 which may bear the name of the occupant or any other suitable information, or numerals.

The rear panel frame 13 embodies side members 44 and 45 integrally joining upper and lower cross bars 46 and 47 defining the intramarginal opening 48 having its peripheral edge rabbeted forming a rim flange or stop 49 limiting movement of interviewing door 50 against the rear panel to be flush with the side members 44 and 45 and upper and lower cross bars 46 and 47. The door 50 is provided with lugs 51 extending between pairs of spaced ears 52 mounted on side member 45 carrying pin 53 swingably holding lugs 51. In this way, door 50 is hingedly held onto the rear frame panel. Stop flanges as 49 include enlarged perforated and countersunk corner members 54 in which a stud screw 142 is inserted extending to and within the front rim corner members 41 and 42, whereby the front and rear panels may be brought towards each other within door opening 11. Stop flanges 49 extend forwardly towards the front panel and comprises an intramarginal rabbeted rim 55 receivable in open-- tion of the disclosure.

Side 44 of the rear frame panel includes a keeper 56 adapted to retain the swingable arm 57 pivotally mounted on the door 50 by bolt 58 having a suitable finger piece 59 whereby the arm may be thrown to open or shut the interviewing door, by either disengaging or engaging the arm from the keeper 56.

Of course, to adjust the front and rear 7 panels, the interviewing door 50 is unlocked to obtain access to the studs 142 having their heads countersunk in the corner pieces 54. Again, the grille rim of the front panel and the intra-marginal rim 55 of the rear panel may frictionally fit within opening 11 but preferably relative panel adjustment is obtained by means of corner stud screwsas disclosed and in this way prongs 36 may be forced and sunk into the body of the door to retain the indicia holder in proper operative position.

In the operation of the device, the person outside of the entrance door actuates the knocker. The occupant unlocks the interviewing door 50 permitting view of the per son on the outside thru grille 19 concomitantly permitting conversations. Thus, it will be apparent that the entrance door may be kept locked during conversation and of course, if the person on the outside desires unauthorized access, admission is refused.

The embodiment illustrated is shown by way of preference only. The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness and understanding. Hence no unnecessary limitations should be understood and the appended claim should be construed as broadly as the state of art permits.

I claim:

An interviewer, including, in combination, a door having an opening, of a front panel grille member embodying an indicia holding portion, a striker portion disposed below the holding portion, a knocker mounted on said grille member, a grille rim extending rear wardly and disposed in said opening, and corner members carried by said grille rim, a rear panel member having a rabbeted forwardly projecting rim embodying corner members, studs countersunk in said rabbeted rim and adj ustably mounted in said grille rim corner members, and an interviewing door hingedly mounted on said rear panel and detachably locked thereto.

Signed at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, this 3rd day of June, 1929. Y

BEN BERNARD BRESLOW. 

